What BF% are abs visible?

msamson wrote:
> I'm 6'2, 200 lbs (recently dropped 5 lbs) and have a 31.5" waist and 7"
> wrist.

How do you have a 31.5" waist? And how are you measuring that? Of
course, Schuh's got a 26" waist, but he's, what, 5'9"?

(adds msamson to Those Most Hated list)

> According to the book The Omega Zone, and subtracting my wrist
> measurement from my waist measurement and looking it up in the chart
> across my weight, it indicates that I have 7% BF.

That's hilarious. You take your wrist measurement and subtract it from
your waist measurement as the basis for your percent? How does that
even begin to make sense?

Say you've got a monster guy who's got 9" wrists a Branch Warren-type
waist. You're saying that The Omega Zone chart is going to put you at a
lower BF than the guy on juice and cut to the bone? No.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/curt_james/MFW/branchwarren.jpg

> This is the lowest it's been since I was about 22 (I'm 30 now).

Could you see abs at 22?

> AccuMeasure callipers are in the mail.....so i'm not sure just
> how "accurate" this measuring process is although i'm guessing
> +/- 3-4%, which means i'm probably not more than 10%.

The number means nothing, imo. Look at the mirror instead. Sure, it's
nice to see a number drop as you diet, but you're interested in visible
abs. You're not interested in waving around a printout or an index card
with "Johnny's percent bodyfat is 2 today."

> Although I have some cuts on the outside of my mid-section and
> obliques, I still don't have abdominal definition. Sure my mid section
> is lean and completely flat...

"Curse you!" screamed the jealous Buddha.

> but not really ab definition like i'd want....no "inner" cuts
> at all.

Are you doing weighted crunches? What's your ab routine? Sets, reps?
Diet? Cardio?

Get to work: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbinfo.php?page=Abdominals


> At what BF% should abs show reasonably?

Define reasonably.

> I'm guessing it has to be less than 5-6% forsure
> since at 7-10% i'm not even 1/2 way to definition.
> I guess more BF loss and more ab work is needed.

I'd bet that different people see abs at different BF%. Someone just
jam-packed with ab muscles will show their abs more quickly than
someone with thin or narrow abs. It seems obvious that muscles are more
evident on some people. High attachments versus low attachments, more
fibers versus less fibers, etc.

> Otherwise, i'm thinking that to get good ab definition
> you have to dehydrate yourself big time.

Maybe not...

http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-You-Do-Not-have-Killer-Abs-or-that-6-Pac...bdomina


Best of luck.

--
Curt
 >> Stay informed about: What BF% are abs visible? 

Curt James wrote:
> msamson wrote:
> > I'm 6'2, 200 lbs (recently dropped 5 lbs) and have a 31.5" waist and 7"
> > wrist.
>
> How do you have a 31.5" waist? And how are you measuring that? Of
> course, Schuh's got a 26" waist, but he's, what, 5'9"?
>
> (adds msamson to Those Most Hated list)
>

Measured first thing in the morning with a soft tape measure right
around on top of the belly button (if I measured higher it would be
even smaller). I was at 35" a few months ago but cut out all carbs
except for fruit and veggies. I was at 215 and just by doing this I
went down to 205. I have recently dropped another 5 lbs due to
surgery (septoplasty) and not being able to workout. When I had the
35" waist I was eating bread, buns, garlic cheese bread, and rice milk
later in the evening. I cut all that though and eat very clean. Carbs
remain from fruits/veggies but also with a slice or 2 of whole rye
bread daily.

> > According to the book The Omega Zone, and subtracting my wrist
> > measurement from my waist measurement and looking it up in the chart
> > across my weight, it indicates that I have 7% BF.
>
> That's hilarious. You take your wrist measurement and subtract it from
> your waist measurement as the basis for your percent? How does that
> even begin to make sense?
>
> Say you've got a monster guy who's got 9" wrists a Branch Warren-type
> waist. You're saying that The Omega Zone chart is going to put you at a
> lower BF than the guy on juice and cut to the bone? No.

There is a chart in the book and for males you take the waist and
subtract the rest and then look up THAT number against your weight.
For females there is no wrist measurement...just waist, hips, and
height.

> > This is the lowest it's been since I was about 22 (I'm 30 now).
>
> Could you see abs at 22?
>

A little bit...more than I have now but I also only weighed 185. I had
my BF tested with calipers at that time and apparently I was 7%.

> The number means nothing, imo. Look at the mirror instead. Sure, it's
> nice to see a number drop as you diet, but you're interested in visible
> abs. You're not interested in waving around a printout or an index card
> with "Johnny's percent bodyfat is 2 today."

I rather guage progress on BF and scale than scale alone. As using
only scale doesn't show muscle loss/gain. When I weighed 215 a few
months ago according to this "book method" I was 13%. So even if it's
not accurate, I did make some progress and lost BF% in some capacity.
But as I mentioned, I have some AccuMeasure calipers in the mail and
from what I have heard they are accurate to +/- 2% so if it correlates
to the "Zone" method then that will show that it's actually a not bad
method to use.

> > Although I have some cuts on the outside of my mid-section and
> > obliques, I still don't have abdominal definition. Sure my mid section
> > is lean and completely flat...
>
> Are you doing weighted crunches? What's your ab routine? Sets, reps?
> Diet? Cardio?

My ab routine is 4 sets of 25 ab board sit ups in a very slow movement
concentrating on the eccentric motion before every single workout, and
then a few times per week I also do more ab work AFTER the workout
which typically entails Roman Chair leg raises with straight leg and
hold the position and slowly release, hanging off a chin bar knee
raises, lying on back leg raises, and holding stiff legs 6" off ground
as long as I can. That's about it.

> Define reasonably.

The appearance of some definition...so abs can be seen....I don't think
i'll ever be able to have a 6 pack since my lower 2 abs are like one
flat sheet...kinda like Arnold. But a 4 pack would be nice.

Thanks for your response Curt.

If anyone wants to humour themselves i'd be happy to look up your
measurements in the Zone book:

You need your exact waist measurement in inches at the BELLY BUTTON and
subtract your wrist measurement in inches on your right hand right
between the bone of your thumb and wrist.....If I have that calculation
and your weight, I can look up the BF% number for you.
 >> Stay informed about: What BF% are abs visible? 

DZ wrote:
> msamson <msamson11975.RemoveThis@yahoo.ca> wrote:
> > I also do more ab work AFTER the workout which typically entails
> > Roman Chair leg raises with straight leg and hold the position and
> > slowly release, hanging off a chin bar knee raises, lying on back
> > leg raises, and holding stiff legs 6" off ground as long as I can.
>
> Try the following experiment. Place the knee under a desk, place the
> hand on the abs. Push the table up with the knee as if you did the
> knee/leg raises. Do your abs contract?

Yes.
 >> Stay informed about: What BF% are abs visible? 

DZ wrote:
> msamson <msamson11975.DeleteThis@yahoo.ca> wrote:
> > DZ wrote:
> >> msamson <msamson11975.DeleteThis@yahoo.ca> wrote:
> >> > I also do more ab work AFTER the workout which typically entails
> >> > Roman Chair leg raises with straight leg and hold the position and
> >> > slowly release, hanging off a chin bar knee raises, lying on back
> >> > leg raises, and holding stiff legs 6" off ground as long as I can.
> >>
> >> Try the following experiment. Place the knee under a desk, place the
> >> hand on the abs. Push the table up with the knee as if you did the
> >> knee/leg raises. Do your abs contract?
> >
> > Yes.
>
> Now try to relax the abs while still pushing up the table. You can do
> it!

Although I can slightly relax them, no matter what they tense up to
some degree. I fail to see your point here BTW.
 >> Stay informed about: What BF% are abs visible? 

apparently, 21% bodyfat. quote from another thread:

Brian Link wrote:
> My son's girlfriend, 18 years old, is ~100 pounds dripping wet. She's
> dropped to about 21% bodyfat, and is around 5'3". She's ripped, and
> incredibly strong for her size.

so, to get ripped abs, you gotta get down to 21%.
 >> Stay informed about: What BF% are abs visible? 

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 >> Stay informed about: What BF% are abs visible? 

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 >> Stay informed about: What BF% are abs visible? 

"msamson" <msamson11975.TakeThisOut@yahoo.ca> schreef:

> At what BF% should abs show reasonably?

Depends on the thickness of the abdominal muscles. Heavily trained abs are
sooner visible then weak, flat abs.

----
Pete
 >> Stay informed about: What BF% are abs visible? 

Top what???

JMWhaa-say-again-whaaa?? wrote:
> "Pete" <phoutstra DeleteThis @wanadoo.nl> wrote:
>
> >You are working the hip joint extensors that way
>
> You misspelled "flexors."
>
> You also top-posted.
>
> You're on probation, Dutch<snip>

--
Curt
 >> Stay informed about: What BF% are abs visible? 

This message is not archived
 >> Stay informed about: What BF% are abs visible? 

You are working the hip joint extensors that way

"DZ" <30526 DeleteThis @150128621.23527964.28913.3818.10996> schreef in bericht
news:5027@2580610633.2491510064.11959.16959.10450...
> msamson <msamson11975 DeleteThis @yahoo.ca> wrote:
>> DZ wrote:
>>> msamson <msamson11975 DeleteThis @yahoo.ca> wrote:
>>>> DZ wrote:
>>>>> msamson <msamson11975 DeleteThis @yahoo.ca> wrote:
>>>>> > I also do more ab work AFTER the workout which typically entails
>>>>> > Roman Chair leg raises with straight leg and hold the position and
>>>>> > slowly release, hanging off a chin bar knee raises, lying on back
>>>>> > leg raises, and holding stiff legs 6" off ground as long as I can.
>>>>>
>>>>> Try the following experiment. Place the knee under a desk, place the
>>>>> hand on the abs. Push the table up with the knee as if you did the
>>>>> knee/leg raises. Do your abs contract?
>>>>
>>>> Yes.
>>>
>>> Now try to relax the abs while still pushing up the table. You can do
>>> it!
>>
>> Although I can slightly relax them, no matter what they tense up to
>> some degree.
>
> You should be able to relax the abs completely and get the table off
> the ground, i.e. exert force by raising the knee without involving the
> abs.
>
>> I fail to see your point here BTW.
>
> that those are not exactly abs exercises - there is only a static abs
> contraction.
>
 >> Stay informed about: What BF% are abs visible? 

"Pete" <phoutstra DeleteThis @wanadoo.nl> wrote:

>You are working the hip joint extensors that way

You misspelled "flexors."

You also top-posted.

You're on probation, DutchBoy.

>"DZ" <30526 DeleteThis @150128621.23527964.28913.3818.10996> schreef:
>> msamson <msamson11975 DeleteThis @yahoo.ca> wrote:
>>> DZ wrote:
>>>> msamson <msamson11975 DeleteThis @yahoo.ca> wrote:
>>>>> DZ wrote:
>>>>>> msamson <msamson11975 DeleteThis @yahoo.ca> wrote:
>>>>>> > I also do more ab work AFTER the workout which typically entails
>>>>>> > Roman Chair leg raises with straight leg and hold the position and
>>>>>> > slowly release, hanging off a chin bar knee raises, lying on back
>>>>>> > leg raises, and holding stiff legs 6" off ground as long as I can.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Try the following experiment. Place the knee under a desk, place the
>>>>>> hand on the abs. Push the table up with the knee as if you did the
>>>>>> knee/leg raises. Do your abs contract?
>>>>>
>>>>> Yes.
>>>>
>>>> Now try to relax the abs while still pushing up the table. You can do
>>>> it!
>>>
>>> Although I can slightly relax them, no matter what they tense up to
>>> some degree.
>>
>> You should be able to relax the abs completely and get the table off
>> the ground, i.e. exert force by raising the knee without involving the
>> abs.
>>
>>> I fail to see your point here BTW.
>>
>> that those are not exactly abs exercises - there is only a static abs
>> contraction.
 >> Stay informed about: What BF% are abs visible? 

Shit... two stupid mistakes in one post

"JMW" <jmwilliams DeleteThis @enforcergraphics.f2s.com> schreef in bericht
news:7isac25isn8hr73p5jdalhqp1fb7ogpr2t@4ax.com...
> "Pete" <phoutstra DeleteThis @wanadoo.nl> wrote:
>
>>You are working the hip joint extensors that way
>
> You misspelled "flexors."
>
> You also top-posted.
>
> You're on probation, DutchBoy.
>
>>"DZ" <30526 DeleteThis @150128621.23527964.28913.3818.10996> schreef:
>>> msamson <msamson11975 DeleteThis @yahoo.ca> wrote:
>>>> DZ wrote:
>>>>> msamson <msamson11975 DeleteThis @yahoo.ca> wrote:
>>>>>> DZ wrote:
>>>>>>> msamson <msamson11975 DeleteThis @yahoo.ca> wrote:
>>>>>>> > I also do more ab work AFTER the workout which typically entails
>>>>>>> > Roman Chair leg raises with straight leg and hold the position and
>>>>>>> > slowly release, hanging off a chin bar knee raises, lying on back
>>>>>>> > leg raises, and holding stiff legs 6" off ground as long as I can.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Try the following experiment. Place the knee under a desk, place the
>>>>>>> hand on the abs. Push the table up with the knee as if you did the
>>>>>>> knee/leg raises. Do your abs contract?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Yes.
>>>>>
>>>>> Now try to relax the abs while still pushing up the table. You can do
>>>>> it!
>>>>
>>>> Although I can slightly relax them, no matter what they tense up to
>>>> some degree.
>>>
>>> You should be able to relax the abs completely and get the table off
>>> the ground, i.e. exert force by raising the knee without involving the
>>> abs.
>>>
>>>> I fail to see your point here BTW.
>>>
>>> that those are not exactly abs exercises - there is only a static abs
>>> contraction.
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: What BF% are abs visible?